New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-18
PUBLIC TRUSTS NOT PRIVATE PROPERTY.


PUBLIC TRUSTS NOT PRIVATE PROPERTY.
To tAe Edfforof rae rrtoHae
SIR: 10 would seem the President irnagines that he
owns this country fee simple and dispose OF the
whole or any part of II rs he sees IT. From my smau
knowledge OF the law of nations had always supposed
that property captured by the land forces OF Govern
ment belonged to the Government but " would seem
that in the of the captured rebel flags they belong TO
President Cleveland personally, and he may dispose OF
them according his own fancy desire to enter my
protest against this view Those flags are the
property of the United States and President Cleveland
has no right to give them away to the Southern
States than he would to return the captured
muskets or cannon, 10 order the Secretary Of the
Treasury to those states certain amount of gold
coin belonging To the United States.
What kind ofgfeeling this man have who could de-
iberatey order the surrender trophies that represent
SO much of the blood and OF this country and
SO much OF the splendid patriotism OF It's nahhooa
Inundated by his grotosque attempts at wit In bis pea
sion vetoes And must they now be insulted by ths
seSostares everything that speaks Of t9eir heroic
efforts to save this Government J. A. DESsrsoN
Nelo- York, June II, 1887.
PARALLEL BETWEEN CLEVELAND AND FLOYD.
To M Edftor or The Trfbane.
SIR: As g. A. protest against the return Of
the Confederate flags Politics has nothing to do with
my opinion Cleveland has either seized upon manu-
frequent occasions and for the purpose
Of insulting the Grand Army where Is most senaitiva
President who respected public opinion would gladly
forego such an action, II II were his right, and
leave the responsibility to Congress where 1t belonss
But giving up tho flags is than offence 10 the g.
r. Il is dishonest It Is riing the War Department.
He has no right do that than Floyd had to steal
war materials and money for the South. Cevelands act
is for the same cause" all for the South. whether
Intentionally Did hurt their poor little feelings
have those mutilaed rags that once represented
cruel lie locked up IN dusty garrett Did their incp
tent sand merted oblivion In the loft tend TO stir the
recollection OF once bitter animosties . Not bit
Hardly soul In the North-exoept, perhaps, the Mug
wumps-ever thought OF them! But The animosifies
were mostly on the side of the Southj and IL Ia the
restoration OF these flags TO the South. TO be treasured
exhibited Haunted in professions and boosted over that
will agtate the gall OF sectional strife and bring the
dregs OF bitter unreasonable hatred OF the North up
to the surface OF the muchvauned good feeling of the
New South"
We all hail with Joy every honest attempt to fill up the
yewning gaps OF and smother them over that they
may yield the products of peace and smile with the
flowers OF reconciliation. But this tricky effort TO thrust
in the seeshod fagsafs will rankle and pry open the
fast-healng surface, and the waving flags viii be too
suggestive OF flowing blood MOI Hear ", MT, Mt
and key we would other historical material. Cleys
land knows he has forfeited already the support OF nearly
matter in that direction Let him think OF the vetoes
political significance MI with handy excitement the
empty between the sessions Of Congress for he
naxs t his only hope Is to keep Il solid and he would p
open the wound TO any extent and pluck the naonal
bird bare and feather the cushion Of hS chair
another four years. But will he continue 70 be CON
sistentl may expect him 20 return all the rebel
archives every scrap of material every gun, large
and small all the rebel dead that were captured and
all the Grand Army badges made Of captured cannon
II he tender about the flags how he must hate our
badgesi Any see how unreasonable his act Is
and 1t viii accomplish purpose the reverse OF that
conclusion without making himself stu more ridiculous
at home and hooting stock abroad. Please do not
adicctives
understandings Of feelings have not any but good
wishes for the south But think the distinction be
tween the two flags should be preserved and should
hold on 10 our badges. While chersbns the family
affection should forever loathe with scorn the
treasonable acts OF our impatient brother.
JOHN II. WmTsEY, Co b.. Hawkins Zouaves Post
Lafayette lao, q. A. K
Eep York. June Is. 1887